| Letters
to the editor from this week's Chronicle:
TO THE EDITOR
To the editor, Recently I ran for a third term for the City Council. While I was unsuccessful in this endeavor I would like to thank all the Voters that cast Their ballots for Me. It has been a gratifying experience working with the Mayor and present members of the Council, and of course with Carol "Our" City Clerk also Joe Our Atty. Also I would like to offer congratulations to the successful Candidates and to wish them well in coming years. Jay Hinterlong To the editor. We really love living in Cottonwood. We love the teachers our kids have (and have had). We love the friends we have made in the community who welcomed us in with open arms. We love that Carol at city hall knew our name from the first moment we walked into her office to pay our water bill. We love that our kids can enter anything at the county fair and get a ribbon for it. We truly love raising our kids here. That being said, We don’t understand some of the things taking place in our community. We are frustrated and angered at the lack of support for a school administration that is trying to look out for our kids. A school administration that is for the first time enforcing drug and alcohol policies that are enforced around the state. We have been absolutely appalled at the stories we hear about some of the youth in our community and what they get away with. Parties every weekend where alcohol is present and provided by parents. And authorities who turn a blind eye because ‘they’re just kids”. What are we teaching our children and the future leaders of this community and our fine nation? We believe we are handicapping our children for life if we continue to teach them there are no consequences for their behavior or we make excuses for their inappropriate behavior. We’ll stand up for doing what’s right and ask that others also stand up and let their voices be heard for what it right. It’s right try and prevent underage drinking. It’s right to try to stop drug use. It’s right to teach our children there are consequences for their actions. It’s right to follow the law. It’s right to follow the rules. We are proud of an administration that is willing to step up and do what’s right even when some parents seem unwilling to do so. Please in a world begging for someone to stand up and do the right thing Stand Up and do the right thing for our children. Jason and Megan Rambo Cottonwood, ID TO THE EDITOR I would like to address some issues that have been arising from our community and that were posted in the paper. I am answering as a concerned parent. I have four of my own children in the Cottonwood school district. My first question is this: Do you understand the true nature of the rumors you may have been hearing? Do you understand the situation(s) or the goals of our school administration? I will not mention specific community members or situations, but rather ask how many of your community members are truly concerned with the health, safety, and academic progress of our youth. How many of you have expressed concern with drinking, parties, athletics and academic subjects? How many of you have discussed the hope that your child graduates and has success in life? I would hope that I am speaking for everyone when I say that we want the best for our children. We are in an era that demands knowledge. Our children need to complete high school and continue their education. Our administrators have worked hard to provide for multiple subjects in academics for every student. We want our students to have subjects that interest them from all areas, such as advanced biology, medical terminology, band, clothing, and sports. Every student is different and we hope to stimulate everyone in some way or subject. Our district staff follows guidelines to ensure that our students are stimulated to gain the best education possible and be the best responsible adults they can be. Our coaches encourage athletes to strive to perform to the best of their abilities and work on self-esteem and pride. So what does “the best” mean? I would like to think it is teaching our children right from wrong. Teach them to follow the law. Teach them to follow rules. Encourage them to graduate from high school and continue education, and to be active in community whether it is through sports or some other activity. We need our children to be responsible for their own actions, and to take responsibility and accept consequences when something wrong has occurred. If we do not do this, then we teach our children to blame others for their mistakes. We do not make them strong, responsible adults by covering up the problem. When the system is publicly criticized, you send a powerful message to the students. You provoke the students to disrespect the staff, policies, and the entire system. Explain to me how that benefits the safety, responsibility and academic progress of the student and / or athlete. You mention ethics and ethical behavior. Yes, district staff and the school board both have a code of ethics. Some examples are, “Remember always that my first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of the students attending the public schools”, and “Make all decisions based on the available facts and my independent judgment, and refuse to surrender that judgment to individuals or special interest groups”, and “A professional educator exemplifies honesty and integrity in the course of professional practice.” I encourage all people who question the system to look at all Codes of Ethics, because I believe our district has met those standards. Remember, the students of our community also have a code of ethics: it is called a student handbook. Our student handbook states what is expected in preparation to be a successful citizen of our community. A few topics of this handbook include safety, respect, and responsibility. An example is the drug and alcohol policy that students know is strictly enforced. This policy is set up for the health and safety of our students, and nothing more. Another is the grade policy, again to stimulate students to be their best. Students have the knowledge beforehand of consequences to their actions. If they choose wrong then they should be held accountable and accept consequences. When our children leave high school, they are on their own. We only hope that we have taught them enough ethics to be responsible, educated adults. We want all our children/students to live their own lives as upstanding, respectful, healthy mature adults and community members. So as community members, try to be open-minded and take the initiative to question, to seek answers and talk personally to district staff and school board. Educate yourself before you think to educate others. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but research first, and make sure you know the facts from all sides before you voice publicly. So I encourage you to ask yourself, “Do I have all the facts?” Jennifer Heitman |
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